Where to stay in Malta, full guide – best areas + typical homes

Nothing more wrong. The island of Malta (and here I’m referring to the main island of the archipelago of the same name) is certainly small but also one of the most densely populated places in Europe.

Not only that, although it doesn’t exceed 250 meters in elevation, Malta has a geographical layout made of constant ups, downs, bends and curves, meaning that especially near the busiest towns, it can take up to an hour to cover just 5 km.

That’s why the choice of where to stay in Malta must be carefully considered to avoid regrets later.

Where to stay in Malta for Young People

If you’re young and looking for fun, the best areas to stay in Malta are St.Julian and Sliema, the two most crowded and famous districts of the island (but also the most expensive), which, along with the adjacent capital La Valletta, form Malta’s densest urban area and therefore also the one best served by public transport.

You may also be interested in: Getting around Malta: buses, taxis, transfers

Let’s look at each area in more detail.

Saint Julian

Pros: Paceville and nightlife are just a short walk away and there is public transport to all parts of the island.
Cons: at night some areas can be noisy and not very clean. No cool beaches nearby. Expensive and busy area.

St.Julian is precisely the district where you’ll find Paceville, the approximately 200-meter-long street filled with bars, clubs, discos, and nightspots one after the other.

One of the most popular nightlife areas in all of Europe,together with Ibiza and Mallorca. If this is your goal for the trip, St.Julian is the right place to stay in Malta.

Some activities you may like, before going on with the article:

I won’t go into the evening attractions of Paceville here as I cover them in much more detail in the guide to Malta’s nightlife.

Beyond nightlife, there’s not much else of note in this district. I recommend to stay here if you want to go out every night without walking far. For those who still want to go out but are willing to walk a bit more to stay in a slightly quieter area, I recommend the next area we’ll talk about: Sliema.

On the other hand, I do not recommend choosing St.Julian/Paceville to stay in Malta if you don’t want to sleep in potentially noisy areas, or you want nice beaches within walking distance.

Sliema

Pros: well-served area, public transport to all destinations, ferries depart for boat tours, you can walk to Paceville in 2km, cleaner than St.Julian.
Cons: crowded and expensive area to stay in Malta, there are no real beaches.

Just south of the St.Julian district we find Sliema. Separated from the former by a small bay with a seafront promenade that’s worth walking along in the evening to admire the reflections of the lights, it takes between 15 to 30 minutes on foot to go from one district to the other. If you want to walk to Paceville, look for accommodation in the northernmost part of Sliema to avoid walking too far.
Sliema is a “classic” city district, with busy streets, services, mini markets but also lots of 6-to-10 floor buildings, due to limited space and high population density in the area.

Advantages and disadvantages of staying in Sliema

Although it’s a busy district and getting around takes time (there are buses to go everywhere, but it can take nearly an hour just to get out of the city during peak hours in August), Sliema is probably the best place to stay in Malta for those who want the best compromise between nearby nightlife and the ability to reach every corner and beach of the island by bus, without having to rent a car, which in Sliema would also be difficult to park and drive!

From Sliema, boats and guided tours depart for excursions to Gozo, Comino, or other parts of the archipelago. One you absolutely shouldn’t miss is the trip to the Blue Lagoon of Comino, in my opinion the most beautiful sea in the entire Maltese archipelago.

Along the waterfront there are nice pedestrian walks and various bars or restaurants. There are mini markets and supermarkets almost everywhere, but remember to stock up before 10–11 PM.

I say this especially regarding water: since tap water isn’t recommended for drinking in Malta, you’ll need to buy some bottles, and if you run out after dinner when even the mini markets close, you might have a hard time. 🙂

I don’t recommend Sliema as a place to stay in Malta for those who want to reach the beach on foot. Beaches are scarce in this area; there are a few small rocky spots along the bay where you can take a quick dip and a nice public garden for relaxing a bit, but they are close to the road and boat docks. For a real beach, you’ll need to go elsewhere.

Visualizza questo post su Instagram

Un post condiviso da Fabio (@always.on.board)

I also don’t recommend staying in Malta in this area to those coming from a city that don’t want to feel trapped in another city. Between bus stops, traffic, cars of all ages, and double attention needed to cross the street (since people drive on the opposite side in Malta like in the UK), you might not feel exactly on holiday, especially if you go in August!

You’ll also have to get used to the curious sensation of hearing the sound of a skid or screech every 30 seconds. These aren’t actual crazy driving maneuvers (although driving in Malta is fairly reckless), but rather the fact that with the island’s temperatures, the asphalt is almost completely covered in rubber, making every car that turns the steering wheel even at a slow pace make the same sound as a screech. 😆

If you’re traveling in high season or booking last minute, staying in St. Julian or Sliema in classic hotels or B&Bs can get quite expensive. If you’re in a group of at least 3/4 people, it might be more cost-effective to go for an apartment through Airbnb (even if I personally hate Airbnb).

Where to stay with kids, as a couple, or for relaxation?

Bugibba

Pros: relaxed neighborhood, some beaches within walking distance, easy to have a car, a few bus lines, slightly cheaper prices.
Cons: less nightlife.

Bugibba, a smaller and quieter urban area in the north-central part of Malta, is a good place to stay in Malta for those not particularly interested in wild nightlife but who prefer to relax and save money.
Great choice if you’re looking for a bit of sea without having to spend a lot of time on buses. Even though there aren’t big sandy beaches nearby, along Bugibba’s entire coast you’ll find small rocky spots where you can comfortably lay out.

On the eastern tip of Bugibba you’ll find St.Paul beach, which also features a small islet connected by partially natural and partially artificial “pools”—well worth at least half a day’s visit.

It’s also a good location to stay in Malta with children, just be careful on the sharper rocky beaches.

Bugibba also has main services, the Malta National Aquarium, bars and restaurants. I had my most abundant and cheapest lunch right at the seafront bar in front of San Paolo beach.

Some bus lines pass through Bugibba, connecting it to Sliema-Valletta to the south and to the far north where there are more extensive sandy beaches, connections and tours to the other Maltese islands so with a bit of patience Bugibba is also a good area to stay without necessarily renting a car, relying instead on Malta’s buses.

And if one night you really want to go dancing in St. Julian, consider taking a taxi, which won’t be particularly expensive given the short distance. For taxis in Malta, always agree on the price before departing and avoid unlicensed taxis!

Ghadira Bay – Mellieha

Pros: several beaches and bays to discover, relaxed area, close to ferries for Gozo and Comino.
Cons: almost no nightlife, need a car or a bike and strong legs to get around.

Ghadira Bay is the bay where the largest sandy beach in Malta is located, in the north of the island in the Mellieha area. However, there are no beachfront accommodations along this bay, where only the road runs and is served by many bus stops.
It’s an excellent place to stay in Malta with kids if you enjoy going to the beach without worries, as Ghadira Bay is almost entirely sandy and the seabed slopes very gradually. I cover all the beaches of Malta in this other guide.

Accommodations are therefore found in the Mellieha – Santa Maria area (just south of the bay) or on the northern headland toward Cirkewwa. As soon as you move away from the bay, be aware that elevation changes start, so if you don’t like climbs, stay in the “sea view” area.

If nightlife isn’t your thing and you prefer nature and relaxation, another advantage of staying in these areas of Malta is that by walking or renting a bike or car you can discover small, less-traveled bays and beaches on the northern headland. Just zoom in on the map (set to satellite view) to find some to visit.

If you do, always bring plenty of water because Malta is sunny and shade is scarce!

In Cirkewwa at the far north, all ferries and tours to the other islands of the archipelago depart. This area is therefore a great choice for staying in Malta if you want to visit Gozo or Comino and the Blue Lagoon!

Marsaxlokk

Pros: picturesque fishing village, a couple of nearby beaches, relax.
Cons: a bit small and far from all other areas, car needed, no nightlife.

Luckily I only have to write it and not pronounce it: Marsaxlokk is a village in the south of the island, known for its fishermen and boats painted in charming colors and patterns. From these photos on Google you can get an idea of what I mean (even if most of them are over-saturated edits).
By choosing Marsaxlokk as your base to stay in Malta, you’ll certainly enjoy peace and a few beautiful, fairly famous beaches just a couple of kilometers away such as St.Thomas Bay and Peter’s Pool.

The downside of choosing Marsaxlokk as your place to stay in Malta is that you’ll definitely need a car to get around, since other villages and attractions are “on the other side of Malta” and relying on public transport alone would take too long.

Gozo

Pros: lower prices, alternative destination, more traditional island, easier to get around by car, various beaches available.
Cons: visiting the island of Malta becomes more demanding, several hours needed to get to and from the airport, little nightlife.

Gozo is the second-largest island in the Maltese archipelago. If you’re looking for a less touristy area where you can dive into the real life of the archipelago, cheaper and more relaxed, then Gozo might be the best place for you to stay.
As long as you’re willing to take the ferry to get there and back to the airport (possibly with a direct transfer) for the full journey.

There are also various beaches to visit in Gozo, reachable by car or scooter.

Where to stay in Malta if you’re looking for a bit of history?

La Valletta

Where to stay in Malta if you want to visit the most historical areas? La Valletta! The capital of the island, it’s a bit different from the European capitals we’re used to thinking of, and also different from nearby Sliema and St. Julian that we talked about earlier.
If Sliema can be considered the operational capital, full of traffic, buildings and activities, La Valletta resembles more an open-air museum. A piece of history that has remained fairly preserved over the centuries without being distorted by roads, traffic and all kinds of modernity. Fin out what’s worth visiting in La Valletta.

In fact, visiting La Valletta on a Sunday is the best (or worst?) day ever. That’s because all commercial activities are closed and there’s absolutely nothing open around. 😆

During the hottest summer months don’t spend the day in La Valletta, temperatures can easily exceed 35 degrees: the heat reflecting off streets and buildings turns the city into a real oven with no ventilation (tested personally!)

Medina

Medina (or Mdina), located in the center of the island, was the ancient capital of the island. There’s probably more history here than in the rest of the island combined.
Certainly, if you choose Medina to stay in Malta you won’t be bothered by traffic but you’ll need a car to get around, even to reach the sea, and there isn’t much to do in the evening.

You might maybe consider a 1-2 night stay in Medina and then move elsewhere.

Where to stay if you’re a hermit? In Comino!

Comino, the third island of the archipelago, also home to the famous Blue Lagoon, is an uninhabited island (or rather, officially has 4 residents).
If you want to stay in Malta away from everyone among the sea and absolute silence there’s only one camping place if you have everything you need.

And if The Count of Monte Cristo is one of your favorite movies, take a walk to the tower where a scene from the film was shot.

Where to stay in Malta in winter?

• Sliema or St. Julian : if you also want to enjoy a bit of nightlife, although more moderate than in summer;
• La Valletta : to dive into history.

Other destinations are better suited for summer and beach activities, and might be too dull or too windy in the colder months.

Now that you’ve found the right place to stay in Malta, don’t forget to also check out what to visit in Malta, look for some nice beaches and read the guide to Malta’s nightlife! 🙂

Through the box below you can compare the prices of all available flights from the airports close to you:

Was this guide helpful? Share it with your friends or follow the official Facebook page to stay up to date!